Dubai’s Media Academy partners with TikTok

Our Correspondent

The UAE’s first digital academy, New Media Academy, has partnered with social media giant TikTok to help empower current and upcoming content creators in the region.

The Academy’s course curriculum includes learning how to effectively use the Chinese social media app, which has more than one billion users globally.

It was launched in June, and offers graduates an internationally recognised certificate on completion of the programme leading to a profession in content creation.

A team from TikTok has delivered the first virtual workshop for government departments in the country regarding creating and disseminating content on social media. The TikTok partnership will open a powerful new marketing channel for government entities, and “enable them to deliver impactful and scalable campaigns,” said Rashid Al Awadhi, chief executive of the academy.

“As the world’s leading short-form video platform, TikTok represents a unique and exciting channel to communicate with local audiences with creativity and authenticity. By partnering with the New Media Academy to deliver a region-first webinar, we are excited about introducing the power of TikTok to government teams and showcasing best practice on how to engage with the public effectively on the platform,” said Rami Zeidan, Head of Video and Creative at TikTok.

More than 50 government and semi-government bodies took part in the webinar, including the Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Police, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Abu Dhabi Media Company and the Ras Al Khaimah Government Media Office.

The academy plans to work with more social networks, brands, apps, agencies, and government and private organisations to help social media users deliver engaging and effective content. It will also try to increase the quantity and quality of Arabic content.

In the past few years there has been a strong focus on developing and regulating the nation’s social media and digital industry. A Dubai freelance visa allows content creators to set up base in the emirate.